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bodkin_ra who requested a short fic featuring my OC, Menelcar the Minstrel...
AFTERNOON DUET
Menelcar leaned back in his chair. It was tiring work to audition the aspiring performers who came in hopes of snaring an evening at the Court of the High King. However, things had begun to improve since the royal wedding had taken place, and in a few days the King and his retinue would be leaving for Edoras and the funeral of King Théoden. Menelcar would not be accompanying them, and though he was a bit regretful--he had fond memories of Rohan--he was as well pleased to have several days of relative peace and quiet in which to plan future performances, and time to spend on his own music.
He truly had not appreciated when he accepted the position just how much *work* it would be.
On the other hand, he’d be saying farewell to his dearest of friends as they left to return to their own land. Truth be told, he rather wished he were going with them; the Shire was a beautiful and peaceful place, and he often found himself missing it. If he, a relative stranger, could miss it so, it was no wonder that those who were fortunate enough to have been born there should be so homesick.
There was a light tap at the door. From the sound of the knock, he was sure who it must be. “Come in,” he said with a smile.
Pippin entered the room with a grin. “Hullo, Menelcar! Do you have a bit of time for me?”
“Always,” he said, grinning back. This afternoon, Pippin did look much like a child of Men. He was not dressed in his livery, nor in the garments made in the style of his own people, but in some of the hand-me-down children’s garments that had been given to them. Only his large and hairy feet, and the glint of hard-earned wisdom in his eyes belied his true nature. “I have finished choosing the musicians for the farewell feast.”
“I’m off duty this afternoon, but Merry is busy helping to make ready for King Éomer’s return. And Frodo and Sam are with Lord Elrond; I think they wanted to talk about Bilbo. I wondered--if I fetch my fiddle, perhaps we could play together for a while?”
“Why not?” laughed the minstrel. “Do you wish to go down to the guesthouse?”
Pippin thought for a moment. “No, it’s such a nice day. Why don’t we play in the Courtyard?”
Menelcar nodded, and picked up his harp, where it stood behind him. “I shall meet you there, then.”
Pippin flashed him another delighted smile, one which made him look younger than ever, and darted off.
Menelcar had seated himself on a bench that looked across to the White Tree in all her splendor, and began to tune his harp. In only moments, he heard the slap of bare hobbit feet running towards him, and saw Pippin with the small child’s fiddle that had been purchased here in the City.
They smiled at one another, and Menelcar said “You start, and I shall follow.”
Pippin tucked the fiddle up under his chin, and Menelcar laughed as the jolly notes of “Nob O’ the Lea” began; he soon was playing along. When they finished, he began to play “When the King Enjoys His Own”. They alternated playing tunes, many of the from the Shire, and some from Gondor, others that Menelcar had picked up on his travels. Pippin began a sprightly air that Menelcar had not heard before, but he soon was following along.
They took no notice of the small audience they had attracted, standing just out of their line of vision--Aragorn and Arwen stood, close together, hands entwined, with Gandalf. And soon they were joined by Lord Elrond, Frodo and Sam.
“Mr. Pippin looks to be enjoying himself,” murmured Sam. Frodo just nodded, smiling at the sight of his youngest cousin’s joy. Gandalf’s toe was tapping beneath his white robes, and Elrond himself was nodding to the music. Arwen had begun to move to the music, and suddenly, with a delighted and mischievous look on her face, she pulled her new husband into an impromptu dance.
This did catch the attention of the musicians, who laughed to see it, but did not miss a beat in their playing. Finally the tune drew to an end, and the King and Queen stopped, breathless, to give them a nod.
“Your Grace,” said Menelcar, standing to bow.
Pippin laughed, and cheekily said “Strider, I didn’t know you could dance!”
Arwen smiled at them both. Menelcar blushed. He was in awe of the beautiful new Queen, whose Elven grace had impressed him from the first.
“I should have been very remiss had I not taught my future husband how to dance many years ago.”
“Tinúviel herself could not have been a better teacher,” said Aragorn, and the look he gave his bride now made *her* to blush.
“Pippin’s going to miss Menelcar,” said Frodo. “It’s a shame we can’t take him back to the Shire with us.”
“Aragorn would not thank you, I think, for stealing away his Court Bard,” said Gandalf. “I am sure that one day their paths will cross again.”
They watched as the musicians brought up their instruments and began to play once more.
bodkin_ra who requested a short fic featuring my OC, Menelcar the Minstrel...AFTERNOON DUET
Menelcar leaned back in his chair. It was tiring work to audition the aspiring performers who came in hopes of snaring an evening at the Court of the High King. However, things had begun to improve since the royal wedding had taken place, and in a few days the King and his retinue would be leaving for Edoras and the funeral of King Théoden. Menelcar would not be accompanying them, and though he was a bit regretful--he had fond memories of Rohan--he was as well pleased to have several days of relative peace and quiet in which to plan future performances, and time to spend on his own music.
He truly had not appreciated when he accepted the position just how much *work* it would be.
On the other hand, he’d be saying farewell to his dearest of friends as they left to return to their own land. Truth be told, he rather wished he were going with them; the Shire was a beautiful and peaceful place, and he often found himself missing it. If he, a relative stranger, could miss it so, it was no wonder that those who were fortunate enough to have been born there should be so homesick.
There was a light tap at the door. From the sound of the knock, he was sure who it must be. “Come in,” he said with a smile.
Pippin entered the room with a grin. “Hullo, Menelcar! Do you have a bit of time for me?”
“Always,” he said, grinning back. This afternoon, Pippin did look much like a child of Men. He was not dressed in his livery, nor in the garments made in the style of his own people, but in some of the hand-me-down children’s garments that had been given to them. Only his large and hairy feet, and the glint of hard-earned wisdom in his eyes belied his true nature. “I have finished choosing the musicians for the farewell feast.”
“I’m off duty this afternoon, but Merry is busy helping to make ready for King Éomer’s return. And Frodo and Sam are with Lord Elrond; I think they wanted to talk about Bilbo. I wondered--if I fetch my fiddle, perhaps we could play together for a while?”
“Why not?” laughed the minstrel. “Do you wish to go down to the guesthouse?”
Pippin thought for a moment. “No, it’s such a nice day. Why don’t we play in the Courtyard?”
Menelcar nodded, and picked up his harp, where it stood behind him. “I shall meet you there, then.”
Pippin flashed him another delighted smile, one which made him look younger than ever, and darted off.
Menelcar had seated himself on a bench that looked across to the White Tree in all her splendor, and began to tune his harp. In only moments, he heard the slap of bare hobbit feet running towards him, and saw Pippin with the small child’s fiddle that had been purchased here in the City.
They smiled at one another, and Menelcar said “You start, and I shall follow.”
Pippin tucked the fiddle up under his chin, and Menelcar laughed as the jolly notes of “Nob O’ the Lea” began; he soon was playing along. When they finished, he began to play “When the King Enjoys His Own”. They alternated playing tunes, many of the from the Shire, and some from Gondor, others that Menelcar had picked up on his travels. Pippin began a sprightly air that Menelcar had not heard before, but he soon was following along.
They took no notice of the small audience they had attracted, standing just out of their line of vision--Aragorn and Arwen stood, close together, hands entwined, with Gandalf. And soon they were joined by Lord Elrond, Frodo and Sam.
“Mr. Pippin looks to be enjoying himself,” murmured Sam. Frodo just nodded, smiling at the sight of his youngest cousin’s joy. Gandalf’s toe was tapping beneath his white robes, and Elrond himself was nodding to the music. Arwen had begun to move to the music, and suddenly, with a delighted and mischievous look on her face, she pulled her new husband into an impromptu dance.
This did catch the attention of the musicians, who laughed to see it, but did not miss a beat in their playing. Finally the tune drew to an end, and the King and Queen stopped, breathless, to give them a nod.
“Your Grace,” said Menelcar, standing to bow.
Pippin laughed, and cheekily said “Strider, I didn’t know you could dance!”
Arwen smiled at them both. Menelcar blushed. He was in awe of the beautiful new Queen, whose Elven grace had impressed him from the first.
“I should have been very remiss had I not taught my future husband how to dance many years ago.”
“Tinúviel herself could not have been a better teacher,” said Aragorn, and the look he gave his bride now made *her* to blush.
“Pippin’s going to miss Menelcar,” said Frodo. “It’s a shame we can’t take him back to the Shire with us.”
“Aragorn would not thank you, I think, for stealing away his Court Bard,” said Gandalf. “I am sure that one day their paths will cross again.”
They watched as the musicians brought up their instruments and began to play once more.
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no subject
Date: 2005-10-25 02:03 am (UTC)No wonder! Aren't we *all* rather homesick for the Shire?
This is a lovely scene.
no subject
Date: 2005-10-25 02:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-25 02:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-25 02:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-25 04:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-25 02:42 pm (UTC)I thought the newlyweds might feel a bit like dancing. *grin*
no subject
Date: 2005-10-25 05:34 am (UTC)I can see why Menelcar would stay in Gondor - but I hope he makes it to Rohan again one day! And writes that song about Eowyn! And goes back to the Shire - even if he can't cross the bridge this time. Remember - “I am sure that one day their paths will cross again.” - Gandalf is very wise!
no subject
Date: 2005-10-25 02:44 pm (UTC)We'll just have to wait and see about the future...
no subject
Date: 2005-10-25 07:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-25 02:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-25 01:19 pm (UTC)“I am sure that one day their paths will cross again.”
I'm glad :)
no subject
Date: 2005-10-25 02:46 pm (UTC)